Resilient wheel.



B. R. PILGHER.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.29,1911.

1,112,931,, Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. ,27&

THE NORRIS PETERS C0..PH010-LITHO.. WASHINGION D c.

B. R. PILGHER.

RESILIBNT WHEEL.

APPLIOA'IION FILED AUG. 29, 1911.

1,1 12,931 Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lvimeises THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHmo-LIrHn WASHINGTON D, C.

B. R. PILGHER.

RBSILIENT WHEEL.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 29, 1911.

1,1 12,931. Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Summon 'HE NORRIS PETERS C0..PHO1u-|JTHO.. WASHING ION. I

srnrns PATENT cries.

BENJAMIN. R. PILCHER, or DO'IHAN, ALABAMA.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

' To all whom it may concern:

l j a citizen of the United States, residing at Be it known that I, BENJAMIN R. PILcHnR,

Dothan, in the county of Houston and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Resilient Wheels;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. f a

This invention relates to. improvements in resilient wheels, and has foran objectthe arrangement of improved means for utiliz ing the resiliency of springy material, and also if desired utilizing the resilient quality of confined air. j e

The object in view is the provision of improved means for utilizing the resilient effect of bowed springispokesand the resilient efi'ect of confined air acting on movable pistons and cylinders.

A further object of the invention is the arrangement in a wheel, of a hub structure formed with a spider arranged to receive a plurality of pivotally mounted pistons and spring spokes, the spring spokes and pistons co-acting with a rim for completing the wheel and for resiliently taking up any shocks. a a

A still further object of -the invention is the arrangement in a resilient wheel, of an improved hub, a plurality of spokes connected to the hub and to the rim, and a plu rality of air cushion means forassisting the spokes, the same being connected to the rim and hub. With these and other objects in View the inventioncomprises certainfnovel construetions, combinations, and arrangement of parts as Wlll be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. a

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view on line -22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a section approximately on line 33 of Fig. l. Fig. 4

is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section showing a pneumatic spoke and therewith. Fig. 5 is a section through Fig. 4 on line 5-5. F1g. 6 1s a detailfragmentary associated parts, and spring spokes co-acting view of a spider embodying certain features of the invention. Fig. 7isa detail perspective view of a socket member.

In constructing a wheel embodying the inralityoii spring spokes, and aplurality of. pneumatic spokes which assist each other in properly supporting a rim so as to resiliently:

take up shocks.

In the drawings 1 indicates a hub, 2 the rim, and 3 and 4 resilient and pneumatic spokes respectively. The hub l is formed with side plates 5 and 6, side plate 5 being.

formed with a flange 7 to which may be se- Patented 0015.6, 1914. 1 Application filed August 29,1911. Serial No. 646,713.

cured a sprocket gear wheel or other device for transmitting power to the wheel. Ar-w ranged between the side plates 5 and 6 is a spider 8 which is rigidly held in place by suitable bolts .01 rivets 9. The sp1der-8 is formed with a plurality of sockets 10 and a plurality of projections 11 formed with journal portions 12. The spokes 3 are formed so as to fit into sockets 10 and be clamped therein by blocks 13 held in place by binding screws 14 which pass through the blocks and enter threaded apertures 15 in the spider 8. Preferably the heads of the binding screws 14 are counter-sunk so as not to appear above the periphery of the hub. In each. of thejournal portions 12 is a bearingsocket member 16 formed with a bearing surface 17 and a threaded extension 18. Bearing portion 17 is adapted to fit into the bearing portion 12 and permit the bearing socket 16 to freely osoillateL.

Connected with extension 18 is a hollow piston rod 19 which extends outward radially from the hub 1 and enters cylinder 20. It will be noted that there is one piston rod 19 and one cylinder 20 for each of the spokes 4, and therefore the description of one, which is clearly shown in Figr l willbe sufficient for all of the spokes 4r- Each of the piston rods 1-9 is formed with a reduced portion 21 for accommodating a washer or band 22, preferably of leather. This band is to assist in affording a tight joint be-.

tween the rod 19and cylinder 20, and to assist in preventing the contacting metals from wearing. Threaded into the end of rod 19 is a sleeve 23 upon which is positioned a washer 24:. Washer 24 is held in place by threaded sleeve 25 which sleeve is formed with. a flange member 26 adapted to-bear against washer 24 for firmly clamping. the

same against sleeve 23. The washer 24 and the band form contacting means for the rod 19, so that no air may escape during the movement of the rod back and. forth. A packing box 2'? is also provided for. thoroughly packing the connection between the piston rod 19 and the cylinder 20. The cylinder 20 is formed with a rounded bearing portion 28 which fits into a bearing member 29, which bearing member is rigidly secured to rim 2. Cylinder 20 is also formed with hollow threaded extensions 30 which are adapted to receive clamping nuts 31 and hold in place connecting tubes 32. The tubes32 connect the respective cylinders 20 and are preferably provided with packing 33, which packing prevents the escape of air through the juncture of extensions 30 and tubes 32. In constructing the cylinder 20 the same is preferably made of considerably larger diameter than the tubes 32 in order to contain a .larger volume of air for giving a resilient efi'ect when piston rod 19 is quickly forced down. It Wlll be noted that the air .in piston rod 19 and cylinder 20 may freely escape through tubes 32 from one pneumatic spoke to the other, but by reason of the difference in size of the tubes 32 and piston rod 19 a yielding resilient eifect is produced. After the wheel has been assembled air is forced into one of the tubes 32 through a suitable air valve 3 L until the air in the tubes 32 and associated parts has been compressed to the desired extent. If at any time the air pressure in the tubes and associated parts should fall below a predetermined pressure additional pressure may be supplied by the use of an air pump in the usual manner.

In constructing awheel embodying the invention any desired number of pneumatic spokes may be used, but preferably a number which is a multiple of 2 in order that the spokes t may be best assisted by the from the respective spokes 3. Bracket 35 is provided in order to properly secure spokes 3 in position, and also to accommodate tubes 32. It will, of course, be evident that lug 37 could be dispensed with and an aperturev provided in the respective spokes 3 through which a securing bolt or pin could be passed, and from thence into bracket 35.

The rim 2 is preferably made of metal,

and has secured thereto a tire or covering '38 formed of any desired lIlllCl' of yielding or resilient material, as for instance, canvas and rubber. The tire or covering 38 is bent around at points 39 and 40 over the edges of tire 2, and is clamped in place by suitable rings or hoops 41 and .42. If desired any desired number of rivets 43 couldbe pro vided for holding the tire in place.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. In a resilient wheel, 'a sectional air tube, a rim extending about the outer portion of the air tube, a hub, radial tubular members connected with the hub,cylinders having laterally extending port members,

the cylinders constituting couplings and each having a main bore and a bore extend,

ing transversely thereof for connecting the sections of the tube substantially 1n line wlth the transverse bore, the radialmembers re- ,ciprocating in the cylinders, and resilient spokes between each pair of radial tubular members, concave socket members secured to the rim, the ends of the cylindersbeing convex and entering said socket members.

2. In a resilient wheel, a sectional air tube,

'.a rim extending about the outer portion of {the air tube, a hub, radial tubular members connected with the hub, cyllnders. having laterally extending port members for connection with sections of the tube, permitting the air to pass between the cylinders, bearing members carried by the rim and receiving the end portions of the cylinders, such cylinders receiving the ends of the radial tubular members, concentrlc. sleeves w1th1n the ends of the radial members, one of the sleeves being flanged,"and a packing material between the flanged portions and the ends of the radial members. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. BENJAMIN RPILCHER.

Witnesses: j o

Boer. T. LANG,

A. L. Kircrrm.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 3

Washington, D. G. 

